Vote for The Observer’s high school football player of the week (Oct. 16, 2025)

Here are the nominees for The Observer’s high school football player of the week.

The winner will be featured in a news article by the media company.

The poll closes Thursday at noon. You may vote as often as you like.

This week’s nominees

Alexis Rosario Beltran, Concord: The senior kicker made a school-record 52-yard field goal in Friday’s 20-7 win over Carson. Beltran broke the school-record of 47 yards he set in Week 1.

Aidan Bornhauser, Mountain Island Charter: Bornhauser, a senior lineman, rarely came off the field in a 28-27 win over Union Academy. He anchored an offensive line that paved the way for 358 yards total offense. On defense, he had three tackles, a tackle for a loss and a sack.

Dallas Brannon, Independence: In a 41-6 win over Chambers, Brannon — a Virginia commit — had 14 tackles, including 11 solos and six tackles for a loss. He blocked two punts and had a sack. In addition, he also turned a 4th and 15 fake punt into a 71-yard touchdown run.

Zach Cullen, Sun Valley: In a 21-0 win at Charlotte Catholic, Cullen had more than 200 yards total offense and a score. He had tackle for a loss on a fourth and 1 as well as interception returned for a touchdown.

Jared Curtis, Ardrey Kell: In a 35-7 win over Rocky River, Curtis was 11 for 19 passing for 181 yards and three touchdowns. He ran 11 times for 104 yards and two more scores.

Jaxon Dollar, East Lincoln: In a 42-7 win over Fred T. Foard, Dollar caught nine passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns.

DJ Douglas, Charlotte Latin: In a 38-17 win over Cannon School, which ran Latin’s record to 7-0, Douglas rushed for 135 yards on a season-high 21 carries for the Hawks, his sixth 100-yard game this season. The three TDs also tied his season high.

Caleb Gordon, Ashbrook: In a 43-7 win over Kings Mountain, Gordon had 11 tackles, a team-high, plus a fumble recovery and a caused fumble.

Lemar Grier, AL Brown: In a 39-21 win over Central Cabarrus, Grier ran 22 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns. Teammate AJ Settles ran 17 times for 147 yard and two scores.

Jamarcus Hairston, Harding: In a 16-7 come-from-behind win over Berry, Hairston had 187 yards of total offense, including two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions in the final four minutes as Harding rallied to win the “Battle of Alleghany,” the street near uptown where both schools are located.

Jackson Heavner, Cherryville: In a 21-14 win over East Gaston, the junior running back had 23 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

Ja’Darius McCombs, Mooresville: In a 49-7 win over North Iredell, McCombs ran five times for 159 yards and two touchdowns, averaging nearly 32 yards per attempt.

Carson Massey, Covenant Day: In a 44-29 win over SouthLake Christian, the freshman QB was 10 of 16 passing for 219 yards and three touchdowns. He ran seven times for 27 yards. SouthLake Christian, which began the season 2-0, ended a six-game losing streak.

Jalaythan Mayfield, Lincolnton: In a 35-34 overtime win over Shelby, Mayfield had four rushing touchdowns on nine carries. He had two pancake blocks, 18 total tackles, four sacks and a pass breakup.

Chaz Portis, Myers Park: In a 63-8 win over Hopewell, Portis — the son of former Miami Hurricanes and Washington NFL star Clinton Portis — had 162 all purpose yards and two touchdowns. He had a 42-yard catch for a touchdown plus 120 return yards and another touchdown.

Ty Sigler, Community School of Davidson: In a 49-7 win over Lincoln Charter, Sigler completed 20 of 32 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns. He ran for 17 yards on two carries.

JT Swinson, Providence Day: In a 71-0 win over Christ School, Swinson had three tackles, a tackle for a loss, a sack, a caused fumble and a 12-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

Da’mourian Thomas-Wright, Butler: Junior running back rushed 17 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 30 yards to account for 167 of the Bulldogs’ 334-130 total offensive advantage under the direction of quarterbacks Tyler Druzbik and Niko Henderson.Butler beat North Meck 28-0.

Brennan Wallace, Christ The King: In a 14-7 win over Lake Norman Charter, Wallace ran 19 times for 116 yards and a touchdown and caught a nine-yard pass.

Jayden White, Hough: In a 66-0 win over Garinger, White caught three passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

Isaiah Woodburn, Jay M. Robinson: In a 42-0 win over South Rowan, Woodburn, a sophomore, had a team-high 12 tackles, including one tackle for a loss and a sack.

Previous winners

Week 1: Jad Aljakhbeer, Ardrey Kell

Week 2: Weston Michalak, Ambassador Christian

Week 3: Cam Johnson, Ambassador Christian

Week 4: Ben Dorsey, Charlotte Country Day

Week 5: Travis Hill, Independence

Week 6: Preston Pruitt, Ambassador Christian

Week 7: Gavin Barber, Mooresville

How to vote

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This story was originally published October 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Vote for The Observer’s high school football player of the week (Oct. 16, 2025)."